Hunger is the mailbox

Mouth agape

And still no letter.

Hunger is being in a room

Clotted with strangers

A jumble of words

Pushing against my teeth.

Hunger is pulling the sweater tight

Against my rib cage,

Holding my anxious longing in.

Hunger is

The Grand Canyon of misunderstanding

Yawning between us

While we greedily stand

Each on our own side

Wanting the other to cross.

Hunger is

The saying of goodbyes

From your hospital bed.

Hunger is the sickness

Eating me inside

A little at a time

For years

Without having the words

To talk about it.